Winch Rigging
Improvisation and lateral
thinking often comes into play when recovering yourself or another
vehicle with the winch. Seldom are two recovery situations the same.
We have a number of
illustrations to show different types of rigging. Please note that
for clarity the “Air Break” (Blanket) which should be placed over the
winch cables has not been shown in these illustrations. They show
rigging using an electric winch however the same principles apply to
hand winches. When using a hand winch, where practicable, I try to
set the rigging up so that I’m near the vehicle with the winch rather
than at the other end of the cable.
Remember an electric winch is
only designed to pull you forward and maybe a little to one side. The
hand winch will pull you in any direction with the correct rigging.
Most people are fine with a
straight 1:1 pull but get a bit mixed up when a snatch block needs to
be used. I always try to use a snatch block when I can as it’s less
strain and gives you more control as it’s slower. A recovery is
always going to have a potentially dangerous element attached to it.
Keep all bystanders well clear.
The Pictures
Click Here to Download,
Print or View larger PDF image
